Travels with Sue & Al: Minnesota State Fair

Monday, August 27, 2012

Minnesota State Fair

The symbol of the Minnesota State Fair
We moved to Minnesota in 1963 and that fall we attended the Minnesota State Fair for the first time. Since then, we made visited perhaps 40 times. We have developed a pattern that takes us to the familiar but also to see how it has changed. Just ask Anna, she knows the routine.

Rolls provided by the bus company
For the third year in a row we have taken a bus from Fergus Falls to and from the fair. This saves a lot of wear and tear on us and saves us from having to take a motel.

Some of the crowd
Lots of folks arrive by bus or car but the lowest daily attendance so far this year is about 101,000. Ten days of this and more than a million persons will pass through the gates.

Walking the path
The bus always comes on the first Monday, Senior Day, with entry discounts. This day has stock dog trials at the Coliseum. A handler, a dog and three sheep provide the drama as the dog works the reluctant sheep through obstacles and finally into a little pen.

At the other end of the fairground is the Pet Center where the Australian Shepherd was featured. We found a shady spot to watch enthusiasts work with their dogs.

I have never seen dogs being trained to balance.

This is high political time with the elections coming up in November. Often during the weekends persons seeking office will walk through the crowd shaking hands. We did not see any. Perhaps that is due to an overabundance of seniors at the fair.

Democrats

Republicans

Freedom of speech

An interview with a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Food is important with many varieties offered. Most are deep-fried, on-a-stick or just plain high-calorie. We have liked the offerings at the Dairy Building for most of the years we have gone to the fair.